Director, Strategic Partnerships

• Strategic Partnerships Office

• Join a university ranked in the world's top 50

• Based at St Lucia location

What started as Queensland's first university in 1909, with just three faculties and 83 students, has grown into university ranked in the world's top 50 that is renowned for being a leader in teaching and research.

When you join the University of Queensland, you're joining a community that actively strives toward creating change right across the world every day. From science and sustainability to health and humanities, our researchers are finding solutions to the world's biggest challenges. Our award-winning teachers are recognised for empowering our students to thrive as innovative thinkers and grow into the leaders of tomorrow.

Even after 100 years of history and excellence, we haven't forgotten that UQ was founded by – and for – the people of Queensland. In 2022, we launched the Queensland commitment as part of our belief that education and opportunity should be available for all Queenslanders by breaking down personal, financial and geographical barriers. It's this commitment that re-emphasises that UQ is a place for everybody: no matter who you are, where you're from, or what challenges you've faced, you can pursue your ambitions at UQ.

Long before the Olympic torch is lit in Brisbane, UQ is already engaging with the Board of the Brisbane Organising Committee for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, to explore how UQ's infrastructure, experts, research and multicultural community can contribute to making this the most memorable games. The Board includes a number of prominent UQ alumni including Committee Chair and President, Andrew N Liveris AO, Vice President and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, and UQ Professor Sarah Kelly OAM.

An enormous amount of planning and preparation is needed from policy to venues, from athlete preparation to selection, from economic prosperity to sustainability. In many of these areas, UQ has the knowledge, expertise, infrastructure, and capacity to make significant and meaningful contributions.

The Strategic Partnerships Office is responsible for developing and ensuring a strategic approach to the stewardship of The University of Queensland's (UQ) major industry partnerships and sits within the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) portfolio.

The function is critical in developing, and overseeing the implementation of strategy and processes that develop and sustain research relationships in the interests of UQ and its partners. The function leads major research partnership initiatives that involve industry and/or government partners; ensuring pathways to translation are attractive to potential industry partners and investors; while providing oversight and development of research collaborations, alliances, and consultancies in the interests of the University.

Our Strategic Partnerships team is dedicated to strategically articulating and pursuing shared objectives and measures of success, while also building capacity to cultivate new and existing partnerships, improving the speed, breadth, and scale of contracting, and defining clear business development pathways to ensure all Australians benefit from our innovations.

The Director, Strategic Partnerships (Industry) will support the Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships in delivering The University of Queensland's ambitions to be part of the solution for industry challenges.

The successful applicant will lead the Strategic Partnerships Office's major portfolios of work including development and stewardship of enterprise level partnerships and major initiatives. The team is responsible for triaging industry engagement, progressing a pipeline of major initiatives and supporting relationship management.

In addition to team management, this role will lead the development, implementation and monitoring of the Strategic Partnerships function budgets, policies, governance, strategies, digital systems, operational and business plans.

If you'd like to have a confidential discussion or would like to obtain the full appointment booklet pack, please contact Lachlan Inch, Principal Advisor, Talent Acquisition via As part of the internal UQ community, we're genuinely committed to finding an exceptional leader we'll continue to work with longer-term, so we'll ensure we also support you throughout the recruitment process.

When you're ready to submit an application, we ask that you please create a profile via our careers website and upload the following documents:

• Resume

• Cover letter providing a highlight of your experience and key achievements 

At UQ we know that our greatest strengths come from our diverse mix of colleagues, this is reflected in our ongoing commitment to creating an environment focused on equity, diversity and inclusion.  We ensure that we are always attracting, retaining and promoting colleagues who are representative of the diversity in our broader community, whether that be gender identity, LGBTQIA+, cultural and/or linguistic, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, or people with a disability. Accessibility requirements and/or adjustments can be directed to  

Relocating from interstate or overseas? We'll support you with the visa sponsorship process and a relocation support package. You can find out more about life in Australia's Sunshine State here.

Applications close Sunday 5 October 2025 at 11.00pm AEST (R Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for Tuesday 14 October 2025.